FL S0822

Amends Florida's expert testimony standards (s. 90.702) to require that expert opinions be based on sufficient facts or data, reliable principles and methods, and proper application of those methods to the case facts

Adopts the federal "Daubert" standard for evaluating expert testimony, requiring Florida courts to follow three U.S. Supreme Court decisions: Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993), General Electric Co. v. Joiner (1997), and Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael (1999)

Eliminates Florida's use of the "Frye" standard (Frye v. United States, 1923), which previously governed admissibility of expert scientific testimony in the state

Restricts disclosure of otherwise inadmissible facts or data to juries unless the court determines the probative value in evaluating the expert's opinion substantially outweighs any prejudicial effect

Effective date of July 1, 2011